Tampa Prep Terrapins Work to Protect their Namesake

By Ann B. Tihansky

When Jack Berlin rescued a diamondback terrapin he dubbed “Buckbeak,” the impact rippled across Tampa Bay and north to Tallahassee. “Once you see one, you’re instantly intrigued and want to know more,” said Berlin, who became Buckbeak’s temporary adopted father after he found the terrapin in a residential tidal creek.

“They are pretty animals. And I’ve learned so much about terrapins in the last six months — most of it bothersome. The decline in terrapin populations is attributed to loss of nesting habitats, having seawalls mostly, instead of mangroves.”

So Berlin took Buckbeak to Tampa Preparatory School where his son is a ninth-grader, to sare his discovery with the Environmental Club as a first step in saving the homes of other terrapin.

“My first wish is to take up the cause of the terrapin and begin working on the derelict crab trap issue by looking at legislation for Florida, similar to the laws in several other Eastern states. An effort with goals like this can be a meaningful learning experience for the students too,” Berlin said. To encourage participation, he created a Facebook group where students can learn more and share their findings.

Turtle awareness at Tampa Prep goes back to 1976 when the terrapin was chosen as the school mascot. Three years ago the alumni association decided to use the mascot to raise community awareness about turtles, especially the diamondback terrapin. Scott Morris, president of the alumni board, supported the ambitious plan to create a custom-designed fiberglass diamondback terrapin on wheels that could be pulled by hand.

Since its construction three years ago, the float has provided a platform for the school to participate in the Gasparilla Children’s parade. The event is highlighted by true terrapin support with students dressed in turtle-themed garb accompanying their drumline, the Blaze dancers, and the school mascot, a terrapin.

“Tampa Prep’s motto is ‘A higher purpose than the self,’ which the alumni really take to heart,” said Robin Kennedy, Tampa Prep’s director of alumni relations and communication. “The alumni wanted to do something fun and educational that would benefit the community and tie to an environmental issue. The focus on the terrapin has taught us a lot about our own mascot.”

The parade attracts more than 250,000 people so it’s a great way to raise awareness about the school and terrapin conservation, said Kennedy. “We designed stickers that say ‘Support turtle conservation, Tampa Prep does’ and our students pass them out along with plush turtles and USGS bookmarks that highlight fun facts about sea turtles, box turtles and the diamondback terrapin.”

“It’s amazing how excited the crowd gets as the turtle moves along the parade route,” adds Morris, the school’s official “turtle puller” for the past three years. “As we proceed along the parade route, the crowd sees the turtle and starts yelling ‘Turtle, Turtle,’ because, of course, they all want a plush turtle toy. It’s exciting, and it’s nice to be sharing a meaningful message about natural resources.”

Spreading the Word

“Educating about the environment through art creates an opportunity for young people to participate in a project with real life benefits to science and the environment,” said environmental artist Xavier Cortada, describing his participatory environmental art project called “The Reclamation Project.”

Cortada has been collaborating with USGS biologist Tom Smith who specializes in mangroves. Cortada and Smith engage students from Tampa and Shorecrest Preparatory Schools in a project where they learn about mangroves and the critical habitat they provide to terrapins as well as many other coastal wetland species. Cortada enlists students to collect mangrove propagules (seeds) from the wild and then creates artistic installations of the seedlings in public areas while they develop roots.

Once the roots are sufficiently developed, the seedlings are planted by the students. Smith supervises the students while they collect the mangrove propagules and again when they plant the seedlings as part of planned restoration projects.

“Xavier and I set up the project and make careful measurements so that I can use the scientific data,” Smith said. “It’s valuable because I use it to evaluate mangrove restoration methods and look at survival success rates, along with other information about mangrove forest ecology. These kinds of activities are things I would never have time to do by myself.”

The Reclamation Project gives students a unique experience that many would not have otherwise, adds Cortada, who sees many benefits for the community. Participating students take an active role in conservation through a project that combines art and science. By planting mangroves, the students are preserving terrapin habitat and are more aware of habitat loss. “It’s likely that these students will always maintain a connection to the area where they worked,” said Cortada.

These community awareness programs help the national Diamondback Terrapin Working Group expand initiatives like field studies, developing model crab trap regulations, and conducting surveys of fishermen to gain more information about terrapin distribution. As more and more people understand the plight of the charismatic diamondback terrapin, they embrace the value of all wildlife and the entire community reaps the benefits.

Terrapin Web Exclusive: Research Underway on Rare Terrapins

By Ann B. Tihansky

The diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) is named for the pronounced bumps on the central spine of its shell and can be found from Texas to Massachusetts. It is the only turtle restricted to brackish coastal waters in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts, and like most turtle species, its numbers are declining. The markings and coloring of the diamondback terrapins are distinct and vary with habitat and region. While no two are alike, but you’ll be lucky see one at all. (photo-Terrapin10 profile shot showing diamondback )

The chance of seeing a diamondback terrapin in the wild is uncommon, even for fisherman and marine scientists who frequently observe wildlife within the marshes, tidal creeks and mangrove forests that fringe Florida’s undeveloped shores. The turtles are well camouflaged and fast swimmers. They are inclined to hide in submerged mangrove roots or seek the deeper waters of dark tidal creeks as humans approach. As a native Floridian and someone who has spent a fair amount of time in coastal waters, the only diamondback terrapin I have ever seen in the wild was a dead one in an abandoned crab trap.

While their populations are in decline in many locations, surprisingly little is known about them. The lack of information hinders our ability to protect and conserve this rare declining species. Scientists and resource managers admit that until they know more about them, minimizing threats and creating effective policies to protect them is difficult. While the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) is concerned about threats to the species, they need better data before making any management recommendations. At this point, community awareness and grassroots activities may be the most effective way to protect the Diamondback terrapin. (Terrapin1-terrapin swimming in the wild, also habitat images, Terrapin 4,5,6)

Like most turtles, the population status of these elusive creatures is predominantly declining or simply unknown for the 16 coastal states where terrapins are found. In a 2004 survey conducted for the Third Workshop on the Ecology, Status, and Conservation of Diamondback Terrapins, Florida turtle researchers ranked the top threats to terrapin survival but pointed out that there is so little data that it is not possible to accurately assess their status.

Depending on the region, mortality in crab traps and loss of habitat are the most important threats. Additionally, findings from numerous studies indicate that crab traps selectively trap and drown male terrapins because they are small enough to get into the trap and subsequently drown when they are unable to find their way out. This leaves the population skewed with more females than males. In areas where no traps are present, the sex ratio is generally about be one-to-one. The effects of this gender bias on reproduction, diversity and population persistence will all need to be studied.

In addition to crab trap mortality, habitat destruction through channelizing of marshes and tidal creeks, construction of seawalls, removal of mangroves and introduction of invasive non-native plants, degrade or reduce terrapin habitat. With Florida representing 20% percent of the total terrapin habitat range, impacts and policies that affect terrapins in Florida will have a great influence on the overall conservation of the species.

“There is so much we don’t know”, said Kristen Hart, USGS biologist and regional representative to the Diamondback Terrapin Working Group (DTWG). “The paucity of data and inconsistency of available information prevent us from being able to say anything meaningful about survival, abundance or population dynamics. If we start now, 2009 would be our baseline. But, it would help immensely if we did start now. Then we could develop a consistent data program that describes terrapin population trends and what causes them.”

Loss of nesting habitat, encounters with automobiles, predation, commercial harvest and incidental drowning in crab pots are some of the significant threats to terrapin survival, adds biologist George Heinrich of Heinrich Ecological Services, who previously represented the region on the TDWG. While most biologists agree that habitat loss and damage to nesting habitat caused by human activity is the greatest threat to terrapins, addressing it presents one of the biggest challenges. Any conservation decisions made by federal, state or local land-management will need scientific data, which takes time to gather.

“Although crab traps don’t pose as great a threat as habitat loss, it is something that we can work on right now”, said Joseph Butler, a biologist at the University of North Florida and senior co-chair of the DTWG. Working with Heinrich, Butler reviewed methods to prevent terrapins from getting trapped in crab traps. They evaluated the design and effectiveness of  several bycatch reduction devices or BRD’ that minimize turtle capture while still allowing for effective blue crab harvest. “The next step is to work with fishermen and regulators to make sure that we will be able to implement an effective system,” said Butler.

Other ways to eliminate threats from crab traps is to remove abandoned and derelict crab traps. A derelict trap is defined as any trap found in the water during closed season for that species or any fishable trap during an open season that lacks at least three of the following elements: buoy, line, current trap tag, current commercial saltwater products license.

Tampa Bay Watch coordinates the derelict trap removal program in Tampa Bay and has removed 660 derelict traps from the bay’s coastal waters. Most recently, Serra Herndon, the TBW scientist who directs the derelict trap removal program, coordinated 36 community volunteers for an event that removed 80 derelict crab traps from the Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve in Hillsborough County.
“If you find a derelict trap, do NOT remove it,” she notes. “Instead, record the location of the trap either on a GPS or chart and any other pertinent information, then call Tampa Bay Watch to report your findings.”

Herndon points out that the volunteers are all trained to avoid any problems with trap removal. “This program gets organizations and community volunteers involved in helping to preserve and protect the bay. It also keeps marine life from needlessly getting caught and killed in abandoned traps.”

“Reaching the public is critical,” said Butler. “If the public are more familiar with the natural history of terrapins and have a better understanding of the threats facing this species, they will be more likely to assist in conservation efforts.”

Learn More

Check out the Diamondback Terrapin Working Group’s site at http://www.dtwg.org

Join Berlin’s Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=35124939845

See the Reclamation Project in action at http://www.xaviercortada.com/?RP_learn

Attend a class, tour or workshop with George Heinrich, a field biologist and environmental educator specializing in reptiles, particularly Florida turtles. For more information, visit www.heinrichecologicalservices.com

Sign up to participate in the derelict crab trap removal program at the Tampa Bay Watch website: www.tampabaywatch.

Fun facts about diamondback terrapins

• Terrapins live in brackish water salt marshes and mangroves along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the US, from Massachusetts to the Texas-Mexico border.
• In colder climates, terrapins brumate (although physiologically different from hibernation, this is the reptilian equivalent to sleeping through the winter).
• Once mature, females are on average three times as large as males of the same age—this difference in size is called sexual dimorphism.  Fully grown females are about the same size as a football.
• Terrapins generally stay close to their home base area (this is known as high site fidelity or philopatry) over time. 
• Terrapins may live as long as 40 or more years in the wild.
• Terrapins have unique skin coloring and patterns—some have totally black skin, some have gray skin with black spots, and still others have black stripes on whitish skin.
• Terrapins can fully retract fully into their shell to protect themselves from predators like sharks and raccoons.
• The gender of a developing baby turtle is determined by the temperature of the nest chamber—warmer temperatures produce females whereas cooler temperatures produce males.
• Terrapins eat snails, mollusks, and crabs. 
• Females must come ashore to find dry, upland soil to lay their eggs.
• The terrapin is listed as a “species of special concern” in many states throughout its range due to loss of habitat and incidental capture and mortality in traps fished for blue crabs.